20 Smart Money Stock Picks With High Projected EPS Growth

If you like to follow the buying trends of “smart money” investors such as hedge funds, here are some ideas to get you started. We ran a screen on stocks with 5-year projected EPS growth greater than 20%. Among these high growth stocks, we screened for those seeing the most significant net institutional purchases over the current quarter, expressed as a percent of share float.

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We also created a price-weighted index of the stocks mentioned below, and monitored the performance of the list relative to the S&P 500 index over the last month. To access a complete analysis of this list's recent performance, click here.

Do you think these stocks will outperform like the smart money predicts? Use this list as a starting point for your own analysis. List sorted by net institutional purchases as a percent of share float.

1. Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA): Engages in the design, production, marketing and retail of functional accessories for women under the “Vera Bradley" brand. Market cap of $1.45B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 22.48%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 4.9M, which is 24.81% of the company's 19.75M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate with a short float at 52.15% (equivalent to 16.46 days of average volume). The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 15.38%.

2. BroadSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ:BSFT): Provides software that enables fixed-line, mobile and cable service providers to deliver voice and multimedia services over Internet protocol [IP] based networks. Market cap of $979.93M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 6.0M, which is 24.07% of the company's 24.93M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 23.27% (equivalent to 8.92 days of average volume). The stock has gained 50.37% over the last year.

3. Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (MFN): Engages in the exploration, development and mining of precious and base metal properties. Market cap of $921.56M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 56.70%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 18.3M, which is 22.88% of the company's 79.98M share float. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.64, and P/FCF ratio at 13.74. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 5.03% over the last week.

4. E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (NYSE:DANG): Operates as a business-to-consumer e-commerce company in the People's Republic of China. Market cap of $369.40M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 53.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.5M, which is 19.75% of the company's 27.85M share float. The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 7.21% below its SMA20, 17.88% below its SMA50, and 64.21% below its SMA200. The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 15.58%.

5. Amyris, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMRS): An integrated renewable products company, offers renewable compounds for a variety of markets. Market cap of $514.72M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.0%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 2.7M, which is 19.14% of the company's 14.11M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 15.89% (equivalent to 19.97 days of average volume). The stock has lost 49.17% over the last year.

6. KIT digital, Inc. (OTC:KITD): Provides cloud-based video management solutions for multi-screen delivery worldwide. Market cap of $420.06M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 28.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.2M, which is 17.62% of the company's 40.86M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 31.26% (equivalent to 15.22 days of average volume). The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 26.43%.

7. Heckmann Corporation (HEK): A holding company, acquires or makes investments in various businesses. Market cap of $744.74M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 16.7M, which is 17.11% of the company's 97.60M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 19.14% (equivalent to 11.57 days of average volume). The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 5.11% over the last week.

8. VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS): Engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for underserved markets in the United States. Market cap of $911.02M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 53.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 9.8M, which is 17.10% of the company's 57.30M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 18.66% (equivalent to 11.53 days of average volume). The stock has gained 10.33% over the last year.

9. Gulfport Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:GPOR): Develops and produces oil and gas in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Market cap of $1.66B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 43.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.3M, which is 16.86% of the company's 43.29M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.45). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 13.08% over the last week.

10. Universal Display Corp. (NASDAQ:PANL): Engages in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode [OLED] technologies and materials for use in flat panel display, solid-state lighting and other product applications. Market cap of $1.69B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 24.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.2M, which is 16.50% of the company's 31.52M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 24.55% (equivalent to 5.49 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 12.06% over the last week.

11. Higher One Inc. (NYSE:ONE): Provides technology and payment services to the higher education industry in the United States. Market cap of $1.0B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.86%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 4.9M, which is 15.95% of the company's 30.72M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 20.83% (equivalent to 24.93 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 11.14% over the last week.

12. Financial Engines, Inc. (NASDAQ:FNGN): Provides independent, technology-enabled portfolio management services, investment advice and retirement income services to participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans. Market cap of $991.45M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 32.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.8M, which is 13.32% of the company's 43.55M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 21.08% (equivalent to 21.24 days of average volume). The stock has gained 24.3% over the last year.

13. Approach Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:AREX): Engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and gas properties in the United States. Market cap of $832.97M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 34.40%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.3M, which is 13.24% of the company's 24.92M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 19.65% (equivalent to 9.48 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 10.04% over the last week.

14. Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MLNX): Engages in the design, development, marketing and sale of interconnect products primarily in North America, Israel, Europe and Asia. Market cap of $1.28B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 25.85%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.4M, which is 12.62% of the company's 26.94M share float. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 9.8% over the last week.

15. iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT): Designs and builds robots for the consumer, government, and industrial markets. Market cap of $836.62M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 22.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.1M, which is 12.59% of the company's 24.62M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 15.16% (equivalent to 10.63 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 5.41% over the last week.

16. Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIRE): Provides intelligent Cybersecurity solutions for information technology [IT]; environments of commercial enterprises, such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, energy, education, retail and telecommunications; and federal, state, and international government organizations worldwide. Market cap of $965.18M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.4M, which is 12.35% of the company's 27.52M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 22.13% (equivalent to 13.48 days of average volume). The stock has gained 32.01% over the last year.

17. China Kanghui Holdings (KH): Develops, manufactures and markets orthopedic implants and associated instruments. Market cap of $315.93M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.77%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.1M, which is 11.41% of the company's 9.64M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 11.85% (equivalent to 24.69 days of average volume). The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 10.22% below its SMA20, 19.12% below its SMA50, and 32% below its SMA200. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 9.98% over the last week.

18. Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE:KOG): Engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States. Market cap of $1.27B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 35.0%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 22.3M, which is 11.19% of the company's 199.21M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 3.42). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 6.16% over the last week. The stock has had a good month, gaining 16.05%.

19. Calpine Corp. (NYSE:CPN): An independent wholesale power generation company, owns and operates natural gas-fired and geothermal power plants in North America. Market cap of $6.64B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 20.51%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 26.7M, which is 11.06% of the company's 241.50M share float. The stock has gained 15.38% over the last year.

20. Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSOD): Provides learning and talent management solution delivered as software-as-a-service. Market cap of $888.94M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 43.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 2.6M, which is 11.03% of the company's 23.57M share float. The stock has had a good month, gaining 24.85%. *Institutional data sourced from Fidelity, all other data sourced from Finviz.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

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